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15/06/2004
UK airport security boosted by hi-tech eye-scanner
A number of UK airports are set to receive a hi-tech iris recognition system which is designed to increase security as well as speed up the operation of immigration controls.
Immigration Minister, Des Browne, said that the state-of-the-art system would store and verify the iris patterns of specially selected groups of travellers, giving "watertight" confirmation of their identity when they arrive in the UK.
The Home Office will roll out the programme over the next year - starting with Heathrow Airport (Terminals Two and Four) and four other airports – Birmingham, Gatwick (both terminals), Manchester (Terminals 1 and 2) and Stansted – by summer 2005.
It is expected that within five years more than a million people will be registered to use the system. More than 90 million people pass through the UK's immigration controls every year.
The scheme announced today builds on a trial at Heathrow Airport in 2002. A joint project by British Airports Authority, the Immigration Service, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways, the trial registered the iris patterns of 200 selected passengers.
"It demonstrated the potential of the technology to increase border security, as well as being popular with passengers," the Home Office said.
Mr Browne said: "We need to ensure that our controls are robust enough to let in only those with the right to be here, and efficient enough to process legitimate passengers quickly.
"The UK's border controls are among the most secure in the world, and we are strategically deploying new technologies to further reinforce their integrity."
The Home Office has signed a five-year contract with Sagem SA to provide the iris recognition system. The Immigration Service will invite certain groups of foreign nationals to take part who have a track record of complying with the UK's immigration laws – for example because they live permanently in the UK, are regular travellers or are here as work permit holders. All potential participants will be carefully vetted.
(gmcg)
Immigration Minister, Des Browne, said that the state-of-the-art system would store and verify the iris patterns of specially selected groups of travellers, giving "watertight" confirmation of their identity when they arrive in the UK.
The Home Office will roll out the programme over the next year - starting with Heathrow Airport (Terminals Two and Four) and four other airports – Birmingham, Gatwick (both terminals), Manchester (Terminals 1 and 2) and Stansted – by summer 2005.
It is expected that within five years more than a million people will be registered to use the system. More than 90 million people pass through the UK's immigration controls every year.
The scheme announced today builds on a trial at Heathrow Airport in 2002. A joint project by British Airports Authority, the Immigration Service, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways, the trial registered the iris patterns of 200 selected passengers.
"It demonstrated the potential of the technology to increase border security, as well as being popular with passengers," the Home Office said.
Mr Browne said: "We need to ensure that our controls are robust enough to let in only those with the right to be here, and efficient enough to process legitimate passengers quickly.
"The UK's border controls are among the most secure in the world, and we are strategically deploying new technologies to further reinforce their integrity."
The Home Office has signed a five-year contract with Sagem SA to provide the iris recognition system. The Immigration Service will invite certain groups of foreign nationals to take part who have a track record of complying with the UK's immigration laws – for example because they live permanently in the UK, are regular travellers or are here as work permit holders. All potential participants will be carefully vetted.
(gmcg)
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